Child Maltreatment

Significant findings associating child maltreatment to animal maltreatment are available. The presence of animal maltreatment may be a sentinel for child maltreatment and maltreated children are also more likely to harm animals.

Considerations

The presence of animal cruelty in a home environment may often be an indicator of underlying behavioral or emotional issues with adults and/or children in that home. Extreme animal cruelty is not normative behavior for children.

Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of social services intervention for a family in trouble.

Individuals that harm animals often have patterns of emotional, physical and sexual abuse toward humans.

Children that abuse animals often are reenacting animal cruelty they have witnessed being done by adults.

The presence of animal abuse may be related to other forms of criminal behaviors, exposing children in the environment to potential harm.

Abused or neglected animals present a higher safety risk to children than animals that receive humane and proper care.

Companion animals may be one of the only consistent sources of non-conditional love and support for children in abusive and neglectful homes.

Harm or threat of harm to a child’s companion animal may be used to coerce and intimidate children to comply with abuse and to not report abuse.

The strategic use of animals (or talking about them) can yield valuable risk assessment data for investigators.

The presence of a calm, safe animal may be a source of comfort and support for children during emotionally difficult experiences such as investigations, court testimony, etc.

Selected Research Findings

DeViney, Dickert, & Lockwood (1983)

At least one person in 60% of pet-owning families being investigated for child abuse and neglect had abused animals.

At least one person in 88% of pet-owning families being investigated for physical child abuse had abused animals.

In one third of the families, the children had abused the animals, using them as scapegoats for their anger.

The rate of dog bites and attacks in these homes was 69%, compared with 6% in a control group.

Ascione, Friedrich, Heath, & Hayashi (2003)

Sexually abused children were five times more likely to abuse animals than were children who were not sexually abused.

Duffield, Hassiotis, & Vizard (1998)

22% of children who sexually abused other children also had histories of sexually abusing animals.

Robin, ten Bensel, Quigley, & Anderson (1984)

91% of abused children institutionalized for delinquency and emotional disturbances said they had had special pets, and

99% showed very positive feelings toward these pets.

Youths reported that abusive adults had frequently punished or intimidated them by killing, harming or removing their pets.

Hutton (1983, Britain)

82% of the families investigated by the RSPCA were also known to social services departments.

61% were known to probation departments.

DeGue & DiLillo (2009)

62.2% of individuals reporting engaging in animal abuse had also experienced child maltreatment or exposure to domestic violence.

Individuals reporting abusing animals are more likely to report a history of sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect than non-perpetrators.

Implications for families, communities and professionals working with children:

Link informed individuals are more able to identify and intervene with both child maltreatment and animal maltreatment.

Cross-reporting can improve human welfare, animal welfare and public safety.

Humane education programming with children can potentially increase empathy toward both animals and people.

The incorporation of animals (or discussion of them) by Link informed professionals can strengthen investigative outcomes in child maltreatment cases.

Use of animal-assisted interventions may be beneficial for children during investigations and/or courtroom testimony.